Off-Marketplace Obamacare Options

If you’re not eligible for Obamacare subsidies, there’s no reason for you to go through a Marketplace enrollment.

In fact, in many places (like South Carolina), there are plans available off the Marketplace that you cannot find on it. These plans often provide better coverage at a better price than you’ll find on the Marketplace. To get prices on these plans, you’ll need to contact us so we can send you a quote.

Obviously, without subsidies the price of Obamacare-compliant individual health insurance can be quite high. Some of our clients have found value in considering other options:

Alternatives to Obamacare

Short-term health insurance.

Short-term health plans provide good catastrophic coverage at a much lower price than Obamacare plans. They don’t provide coverage for pre-existing conditions or preventive care, and you won’t get copays for doctors and prescriptions (other than a $50 urgent care center copay).

Think of a short-term insurance plan as collision coverage. It’s there in case you have a wreck – a large, unexpected expense. (But, after all, isn’t that ultimately the point of insurance?)

Also, you need to understand that short-term health plans don’t satisfy the “individual mandate” of Obamacare, so you could be fined on your taxes. Many people, however, still come out saving money with short-term health insurance compared with non-subsidized Obamacare plans. (We have a tool that will calculate your potential fine to help determine if this is a viable option).

Christian Health Sharing

These are faith-based alternatives to health insurance that function in a fairly similar manner, though they are obviously different in some respects. While this is not a good fit for everybody, we have a number of clients who have been happy with Altrua Health Share.

Qualified health sharing organizations, like Altrua, are exempt from the requirements of the Affordable Care Act so there is no possibility of being fined for not having Obamacare coverage.